Mumbai: Rs 300-cr sea link to Connect Bhayandar with Naigaon

After planning to construct a sea link in Raigad district, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) now plans to build a sea link in Thane district that would connect Bhayandar with Naigaon by passing over Vasai Creek and Panju Island.

A bridge like the Bandra-Worli Sea Link would end motorists' woes while travelling from Bhayandar to Naigaon. File Pic

The construction cost of the 12-metre-wide sea link is pegged at Rs 300 crore, and tenders for appointment of project management consultant have already been invited by the MMRDA. But securing environmental clearance for the project would be an uphill and a time-consuming task as the structure would be passing over a creek and an island.

Confirming the development, MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar said, "In order to improve the connectivity between Bhayandar and Naigaon, we have plans to construct a 5.3-km-long bridge that will pass over the Vasai Creek. Once complete, the bridge will help cut down travel time drastically."

Commuting hassle
Currently, motorists travelling to Naigaon from Bhayandar take the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway and travel about 35-km. Once completed, the sea link will help motorists reach their destination in just 10 minutes, against the present travel time of over an hour.

Officialspeak
An MMRDA official said, "Motorists travelling to Naigaon from Bhayandar get stuck in traffic jams on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway during evening peak hours. Once the sea link is constructed, commuters will not only save on time but fuel as well."u00a0